PROGRESSIVES GIVE BATTLE AT NEW YORK LABOR SESSION; BROOKWOOD STIRS DEBATE
Progressives Give Battle At New York Labor Session; Brookwood Stirs Debate Officials Plead Against A. F. of L. Repudiation— Sullivan Bars Move to Table Motion «Br a New Leader...
...Green Puts Labor DaySpeech on Sound Films WASHINGTON—(FP) — Under the glare of special lights set up by soundfilm photographers in the Samuel Gompers museum room at American Federation of Labor headquarters, President Green recited his Labor Day speech, August 26, in order that it Blight reach audiences throughout the country on September 2. He stood behind Compere old table, backed by Gompers' battlefield trophies and a Gompers bust...
...Dean Muste said: "The real issues In this controversy are two...
...Committee to permit it to come to the floor of the convention...
...Brookwood and the progressives in the labor movement wul never surrender their stand for uncensored workers' education and the right of criticism within the movement," Labor Party Debated Progressive elements also attempted to obtain approval for the establishment of a labor party and sought a vote of censure on Pres...
...The other is the closely related question whether a minority that happens to be out of accord with the official policies of the movement on organizing methods, independent political action, militarism, etc...
...The 40-hour week on municipal was was asked...
...In the course of his remarks on the floor...
...Last ycr» $40,517.73 worth of Improvements were mass from the plant's afrnihbji, to adeSSna to the free provision-of $66,7T*fO worth of electric lights...
...A complete prison program was adopted by the Federation, after a review of the recent outbreaks in Auburn and Dannemora penitentiaries...
...Progressives also hotly challenged Pres...
...You will not do this State Federation or the A. P. of L. any good by passing this resolution...
...Otty Engineer W. N. Harris is responsible for the promise that there will not be any local ssssssmeat five yean hence...
...It was a great mistake to put this resolution in here and a' great mistake for the Educrtior...
...1 of New York City Insisted on being recorded In the negative when the vote on the resolution had been taken...
...Green and the A. F. of L. executive council attended...
...It pays all its bins, practically, from the receipts of the municipal water and light plant...
...WIS.—(PP)—Old age pensta, authorised by the Wisconsin state a*, hat needing specific approval by the •tab/ board, moved a bit nearer reality lben the Kenosha Trades and Labor tansffl asked the board to study the SBoohp of the penson law in other 'Wisconsin counties and In other states...
...Munholland urged that prisoners be taken from industrial work as much as possible and be used in reforestation...
...Ob 'top of that the toads from the plant created a sinking fund for 135,000 hoods which bought street paving, a gymnasium and athletic field, a county fan* site and a municipal airport, besides other things...
...Resolution Almost Sent Back There was every indication that this amendment would carry and there was great consternation among the officials, who then said to the delegates: "If you carry this amendment, tonight the papers all over the country will announce in naming headlines, American Federation of Labor Has Been Repudiated...
...The resolution expressed no condemnation or criticism of Brookwood but simply *ook the position that what the A. F. of L. had done should be backed up...
...President A. E. Castro of the big Amalgamated Lithographers Local No...
...The question on the original motion was called for and the Committee's resolution endorsing the action against Brookwood was carried by the delegates whipped Into line by the warning that they must not "repudiate the American Federation of Labor...
...Ths Utopian era Is scheduled to begin when a new and larger light and gas plant Is completed and placed in steady operation...
...Healy then moved an amendment that the matter be referred to the Executive Committee of the State Federation for further study and a report to next year's convention...
...As it was, there was a substantial vote in the negative, and it was perfectly evident that the delegates had become convinced that the last word on the Brookwood case has not yet been spoken...
...Other subjects scheduled for discussion are Prosperity, Real or Alleged, and its bearing on labor strategy, The Recent Revival in Trade Union Organization and Activity, Ethical Standards in the Labor Movement, Workers Education for Action...
...Lvnch Defends Brookwood James M. Lynch, one of the foremost figures in the A. F. of L., for many years president of the International Typographical Union and recently appointed a member of the special New York State commission on Old Age Pensions by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, flatly stated in the course of a masterly defense of freedom of teaching and of the right of minorities to exist and function in the labor movement: "This Brookwood College case will not be settled until the charges against it have been definitely proved or disproved, and so far as I am concerned that has not yet been done...
...the third urged all unions to help organize office workers...
...John Sullivan for attending militaristic fetes...
...Unexpected criticism of the A. F. of L. for Its condemnation of Brookwood developed when the Education Committee presented a mildly worded resolution, introduced by a delegate of the Printing Trades Council of New York City, endorsing the A. F. of L. executive council action in advising affiliated unions to withdraw support from Brookwood...
...Debate was precipitated by Sullivan's warm defense in his presidential report of the A. F. of L. nonpartisan political policy of indorsing candidates for office on old party tickets Progressives were on their feet with advocacy of a labor party as the only answer to the Injunction evil...
...When debate was closed, by shouts for "the previous question" other delegates were seeking the floor and one of them who was thus shut off...
...Municipal Light Plant Making Denton, Texas, A City Without Taxation DENTON, Texas.—Within five wears Has etty «* 15.00© persons win become O* Meal of the average citizen's dream— Utae wBJ be no municipal Stag whatever to pay...
...Three resolutions adopted urged support of Bookkeepers, Stenographers' and Accountants' Union, local 12646...
...Speakers and discussion leaders include Dr...
...And his promise la backed by a goodly column of figures...
...Delegates who were also members of the American Legion heatedly defended the Citizens' Military Training Camps, which had also come under Muste's critticism...
...He submitted a 13-point program which asked larger facilities, segregation of various grades of criminals, psychiatric clinics, revamping of the prison work, workmen's compensation for prisoners injured in workshops and adequate salary for civilian employes...
...Muste, of the Katonah teachers' union, led the fight on that issue...
...Leo Wolman of the National Bureau of Economic Research, Howard Williams of the Farmer Labor Party ot Minnesota, B. C. Vladeck, Manager of the Jewish Daily Forward, James OneaL editor of the New Leader, Mark Starr of the National Council of Labor Colleges of Great Britain, Norman Thomas, Tom Tlppett, David J. Saposs, Louis P. Budenz, J. B. S. Hardman Lewis Corey, Carl Holderman, Ludwlg Lore, George Soule, A. J. Muste and others...
...The utilities have grown in twenty years from an Investment of $65,000 to one of $656,000, a net profit of more than 1000 per cent...
...Two members of the Education Committee, delegates Abraham Lefkowitz and A. J. Muste of the Teachers Union, non-concurred in the recommendation of the committee...
...Lynch retorted that labor would have that in the meantime unionists should use theii votes to elect friends and defeat enemies on old party tickets...
...Is to have the right to function in the labor movement...
...Brookwood Stirs Debate Officials Plead Against A. F. of L. Repudiation— Sullivan Bars Move to Table Motion «Br a New Leader CorrapenSeni) SYRACUSE, N. Y—The most notable victory yet for progressive labor policies and Incidentally for Brookwood Labor College was scored at the New York State Federation of Labor convention here last week with Federation officials fighting with their backs against the wall and pleading with delegates not to "repudiate the A. F. of L." Newly organised forces of the Conference for Progressive Labor Action tested their mettle and ideas for the first time on the floor of a trade onion convention, when they fought a widefrort battle on the issues of a labor party, militarism and Break wood Labor College...
...Labor Wants Old Age Pensions in Kenosha Go...
...another asked for a legislative investigation of working conditions and wages of office workers...
...Overcrowding and abolition of time off for good behavior were blamed by Chairman John Munholland of the prisons committee...
...Opposition was expressed to the extension of reserve officers training corps units in high schools...
...Already Den ton tana are paying only #3 a huueued sa taxes...
...Prison Prorram Drawn Up Sullivan replied that he had been invited to attend the Brooklyn navy yard ceremonies by union craftsmen employed on the cruiser...
...One resolution urged union offices to employ union stenographers and accountants...
...Freedom was demanded for Tom Mooney and Warren K. Billings and Gov...
...KENOSHA...
...Sullivan's reference in his report on attending the laying of the keel of the cruiser Pensacola in Brooklyn navy yard, and in his presence at West Point ot the militaristic fete there several months ago which Pres...
...One concerns the question whether a labor college is to be an agency to put over some point of view, official or unofficial, or is to encourage the presentation of all viewpoints on controversial issues and not to present any dogmas or policies without analysis snd criticism...
...Pres...
...At this point President Sullivan ruled that the amendment was out of order be-cause "it referred back for further study a matter that had been already acted upon...
...John Sullivan and all other* officers were reelected...
...In the discussion which followed the convention gave the closest attention not only to James M. Lynch but to Timothy Healy, former president of the Firemen and Oilers, Lefkowitz and Muste, all of whom vigorously opposed the passage of the resolution...
...Young of California was urged to make suitable financial restitution to the two labor men for their unjustified 13 years Imprisonment...
...The city has run on a strictly cash basis tor some years...
...Lynch was named chairman of, the Federation's old age pensions committee which is to work for adequate pensions for men over 65...
...Ike onion central body points out that santas are the "modern method of ajabog with old age dependency, which IB prove to be not only economical for Is county but also humane...
...Lynch further said: "We are not disloyal to the A. F. of L. if we insist on further study of this Brookwood question...
...6700 worth of water and fleVaOO sewer service...
...Progressive Labor Conference This Week End "The Prospects of Independent Political Action" will be one of the subjects that will be discussed at the Institute on Labor Progressivim at Brookwood Labor College and the Conference for Progressive Labor Action...
Vol. 9 • August 1929 • No. 4
